Business Digest

BUSINESS DIGEST

October 18, 2006

Forum to aid agricultural women

The Howard County Economic Development Authority and other sponsors will present a Central Maryland Women in Agriculture Forum, "Farming For All It's Worth," from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship.

The forum is designed to offer educational and networking opportunities to women working in the agricultural industry.

Ginger Myers of the Howard County Economic Development Authority will speak about "Maryland Women in Agriculture - What We've Learned." Topics are to include Insuring to Protect Your Farm, Passing on the Farm, How We Changed Our Farm and Succeeded, Grass-Fed Beef Production and Does My Farm Need a Web Page?

The cost is $20. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.; the program begins at 9 a.m.

The Smokey Hollow BBQ Co. of North Laurel has announced that its sauces are now being bottled in Baltimore. The sauces - "Mustard Sauce," "Pig Sauce" and "Gorilla Sauce" - were originally bottled by a Chicago company.

The sauces are available for retail purchase at Smokey Hollow BBQ Co. They are also available by the case and in one-gallon jugs.

The family-owned company at 7500 Montpelier Road is a carryout and catering business; the sauces, intended to enhance the flavors of meats, casseroles and side dishes, will also be offered at local markets and grocery stores.

Advice on how to exit business

The Capital Region of the Maryland Small Business Development Center will offer a series of lectures to help business owners who plan to sell or transfer their business.

The series, "Exiting Your Business ... On Your Own Terms," is designed to help an owner prepare a successful plan for exiting or selling a business. A panel of experts will be available to take questions.

The presentation will be offered in Laurel on Nov. 15. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Breakfast is offered at 8:30 a.m. The program ends at 11:30 a.m. The cost is $29 a person.

The Maryland Small Business Development Center, a cooperative effort of government, the private sector and the educational community, offers consulting and other resources.

Procurement fair -- The Baltimore/Washington Chamber of Commerce, 312 Marshall Ave., Suite 104, Laurel, will hold its 15th Baltimore/Washington Area Government Procurement Fair from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 27 at the Greenbelt Marriott Hotel. Resources and one-on-one counseling sessions will be available for those interested in doing business with the government. Exhibitors and sponsors are being sought. 301-725-4000.

Drivers needed -- Drivers are needed to provide bus transportation for students in the Howard County schools. The school system provides classroom and practical instruction to help drivers acquire the required license and endorsements. Wages are approximately $13 an hour. Hours of work range from four to 10 hours a day. The school system's Office of Student Transportation will put interested drivers in touch with contractors. 410-313-6733.

Resources

Health care plan -- The Baltimore/Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce and the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce are offering a limited health care plan to members. The plan, which does not require employer contributions or minimum employee participation, includes access to health care providers in Alliance PPO. Literature about the plan is available in Spanish. Shirley Redd, 301-725-4000.

Energy -- The Columbia-based Restaurant Association of Maryland is holding open enrollment for the Mid-Atlantic Aggregation Group Independent Consortium, an energy group of retailers and others, of which the association is a member. The consortium's goal is to offer power to commercial participants at a fixed rate that is lower than that offered by the local utility. The program offers long-term fixed pricing for up to five years, a price-reduction clause should energy rates decrease, the right to assign the contract should a business be sold, no historical-bandwidth usage requirement (the price is fixed) and elimination of additional charges in high-demand summer. months. Paula Kreuzburg or Joe Gabriel, 800-874-1313.

Business Digest items may be sent to Fay Lande at fay.lande@balt sun.com or faxed to her attention at 410-715-2816.